Article Pic 1

 

Brenton-on-Sea and Buffels Bay have lost Blue Flag status, however the Knysna municipality is in the process of rectifying this. Knysna Acting municipal manager Johnny Douglas assured residents that the Blue Flag status situation is being remedied and given priority. “Our officials are working on rectifying this issue. It has been given priority by the relevant Departments. I am confident that the Blue Flags will be up again on both beaches by Monday, January 16.”
The reasons for the temporary suspension of the Blue Flag status are as follows:
The signage with the correct FEE eco-labels which is required to display Blue Flag information is out-dated and faded. According to Johnny Douglas, “New secondary signage has been designed and will be put up on both beaches. WESSA retains the right to make their own Blue Flag information board signage and has already indicated that they will submit a special dispensation to the jury for the next round of auditing.”
There were too many informal access pathways through sensitive dune areas. This situation will be remedied by, “Sensitive areas will be cordoned off with proper signage and tape,” said Douglas.
The safety of bathers was compromised by boats which came too close to them from the boat launch site at Buffalo Bay Beach. “Additional buoys have been ordered and proper signage will be put up to separate the bathing areas from the boat launch site,” said Douglas.
Water samples were not submitted to WESSA timeously and the quality results of the bathing water were not displayed on the information boards. Douglas confirmed that, “The latest water samples were submitted to WESSA in the interim which proves the high quality of the bathing water at both beaches. The results will be displayed on the information boards.
No recycling bins were available “Recycling bins have been ordered and will be placed on both beaches,” said Douglas.
“All the above remedial actions will be implemented by no later than Sunday January 15. WESSA has assured the municipality that the Blue Flag status for both Brenton-on-Sea and Buffels Bay will be re-instated once all the remedial action has been completed,” concluded Douglas.
-THEGREMLIN

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *